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The old well
tower
TE photo,
September, 2000 |
Longfellow no
longer exists as a town, however it does as a ranch.
History in
a Pecan Shell
No one seems
to know why it was named Longfellow. It's primary reason for existing
was the same as (relatively) nearby Pumpville,
which was to provide water for the steam locomotives of the day.
Prior to the railroad's arrival, the land was grazed by cattle owned
by Mexican ranchers. A post office was granted in the 1890s for
the people who lived around the railroad station and ranch headquarters.
The telegraph office was closed in 1944 and things haven't been
the same since.
The cluster of buildings on the north side of highway 90
appear to be inhabited on occasion and a visit in August, 2000,
revealed a small flock of domestic chickens. A small boat is hung
under a pole barn. Maybe it's the Hesperus, or someone is taking
the Boy Scout motto seriously. We would advise visitors, as always,
to stay on the public side of the fence.
The south side of the highway has the railroad tracks and cattle
chutes. One sturdy building holds feed for the ranch and this side
is also the site of the old iron framework of the pump tower. Our
visit was monitored by a curious deer at 3 p.m.
There's not too much to see and do on the drive between Sanderson
and Marathon, so
why not get out of your car at Longfellow? If you see anybody at
the ranch headquarters, ask them what the boat is for.
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Gate to ranch
headquarters
TE photo,
September, 2000 |
Feed storage
building in Longfellow
TE photo,
September, 2000 |
Terrell
County 1920s Map showing Longfellow
in far S corner of Pecos
County
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
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